Full-time: Middlesbrough 2 Fulham 0

MIDDLESBROUGH climbed in to the Championship’s top six with a hard-fought victory over rejuvenated Fulham at the Riverside Stadium.

After a dull first half, the game came to life after the restart when Adam Reach put Boro ahead with the first attack.

That proved the start of an intriguing half, with Fulham – who had won their last three games under Kit Symons – rallying and threatening to pull level.

But once Middlesbrough had added a second through Albert Adomah with eight minutes remaining there was no way back for the Londoners. There was a sense of relief on Teesside after Aitor Karanka’s men returned to winning ways.

Karanka was keen to avoid a repeat of the frustrations which were apparent during the midweek draw with Blackpool, but even his tinkering did not reap the immediate rewards he had craved.

Despite pairing Lee Tomlin and Kike in attack again, after the pair’s bright early season form, neither player seriously looked like finding the breakthrough or creating the openings the manager had hoped for.

The only noteworthy chance of the opening half fell to Middlesbrough, but Adomah’s near post flick with his boot hit the woodwork and was cleared after some good build up play ended with Ryan Fredericks’ centering to the Ghanaian.

After that there was plenty of passing in triangles but very little else, while Ross MCormack tried a few things for Fulham at the other end but those were easily sniffed out by Daniel Ayala and Kenneth Omeruo.

Karanka must have been disappointed with the opening period, but whatever he said after during the break had the desired effect. Within 34 seconds of the restart, Adomah’s centre had been half dealt with, Tomlin’s attempted acrobatic kick dropped kindly for Reach to turn over the line.

Reach was Middlesbrough’s most dangerous player in the first half and within second of hitting the opener he also hit the foot of the post following another deep cross from Adomah.

After that Middlesbrough found another gear and looked full of confidence for a short time, although Symons’ decision to introduce George Williams for Konstantinos Stafylidis just before the hour also improved the visitors.

And when Tom Hoogland glanced a McCormack cross off Dimi Konstantopoulos’ crossbar, Middlesbrough were lucky to be still ahead.

Konstantopoulos was also beaten moments later, this time Ayala was on hand to make an incredible clearance of the line when Lasse Christensen’s low shot was heading for the bottom corner.

The Cottagers kept pushing on but with eight minutes remaining, Boro counter attacked in style. The move ended with Kike rolling a lovely cross in to the six yard box for Adomah to turn over the line.

That was just the extra bit of daylight Middlesbrough needed to see out the match and climb in to the play-off zone.

Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Konstantopoulos; Fredericks, Ayala, Omeruo, Friend; Leadbitter, Clayton; Adomah, Tomlin (Vossen 66), Reach (Nsue 90); Kike. Subs: Blackman (gk), Gibson, Williams, Whitehead, Wildshcut.

Fulham (4-1-2-1-2): Bettinelli; Hoogland, Bodurov, Burn, Amorebieta (Smith 78); Parker; Christensen, Stafylidis (Williams 59); Ruiz (Roberts 70); McCormack, Rodallega. Subs: Kiraly, Woodrow, Hyndman, Kavanagh.